VICTOR HONEYCUTT
1923-1946
MYSTERY SHROUDS DEATH OF VAN LEAR YOUTH SATURDAY
Believed Struck By Hit-Run Truck Near Crossing
Mystery today surrounding the death early Sunday morning of Victor
Honeycutt, 23, of Van Lear, who was found in an unconscious condition
shortly after 1 o'clock Sunday morning near the C & O Railroad
Crossing at Van Lear Junction, Sheriff Wiley Hall reported. He died
about 15 minutes after he was found.
It was first believed that he was struck by a hit-and-run truck
driver, but a coroner's jury, after conducting an inquest over the
body, rendered a verdict that the youth met his death at the hands of
unknown parties. A fractured skull was given as the cause of his
death.
Young Honeycutt, a veteran of WW II, with six years service left his
home at Van Lear about 1 o'clock, and was found at 1:20. He had been
in a restaurant at West Van Lear and was reported to have left the
restaurant presumably to go home. Witnesses stated that a red truck
stopped near the crossing and they thought that Honeycutt had caught a
ride home. He later was found by the roadside.
Sheriff Hall had said this morning that no clues had been uncovered
which would lead to the arrest of the guilty parties.
A son of Malcolm and Sylvia Bolden Honeycutt, the accident victim was
born at Van Lear March 26, 1923. He entered the service six years ago
and and served four years in the European Theater of War. He was
wounded in action on two different occasions, receiving the Purple
Heart with a cluster, and also the Combat Infantryman's Badge.
After returning from service in 1945 he was married to Miss Dorthy Jo
Preston, who with a daughter, Brenda Sue survive him. In addition to
his wife and child and his parents, he is survived by six brothers;
Joe, Arlo, Homer, and Malcolm Honeycutt, Jr., all of Van Lear, Edward
of West Van Lear, and Elmon of Silver Lake, Ind.; and four sisters;
Arbutice of West Van Lear, and Lillie Mae, Darlene, and Cherline, all
of Van Lear.
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at the Christian
Church at Van Lear, Rev. S. C. Honeycutt officiating.
Interment was in the Van Lear Cemetery in charge of the Preston
Funeral Home.
PAINTSVILLE HERALD
THURSDAY
DECEMBER 5, 1946
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